Lodged at the bottom of an old china clay pit, the giant biomes of the Eden Project are the world’s largest greenhouses. Once used for filming a Bond villain’s lair, Eden’s biomes maintain mini ecosystems that enable all kinds of weird and wonderful plants to fourish – from stinking rafesia flowers and banana trees to cacti and soaring palms. In summer, the biomes provide a backdrop for live concerts.

A mile north of Lizard Point, this inlet is a showstopper, studded with ofshore islands rising out of searingly blue seas. It’s an impossibly beautiful spot and when the seas aren’t too rough, an exhilarating place for a wild swim. Drinks and snacks are available at the beach café.

Perranporth Beach

Perranporth’s huge, fat, sandy beach is popular with bucket-and-spade families and surfers alike. It’s more than a mile long, backed by dunes and rocky clifs, and usually has space even on the busiest days. It’s home to the Watering Hole, the hub of local nightlife. There’s a large car park right beside the beach.

Looming up in Mount’s Bay and connected to the mainland at Marazion by a cobbled causeway, this abbey-crowned island is an unforgettable sight. Initially a Benedictine monastery, then the seat of the St Aubyn family, it’s a must-visit. Highlights include the rococo drawing room, the small armoury and the church that dates back to 1135, but it’s the cliftop gardens that really steal the show. You can catch the ferry from Marazion at high tide, but in summer it’s worth arriving at low tide so you can walk across the causeway, as pilgrims did centuries ago. Check the website for the causeway’s opening hours.

About Lonely Planet Traveller (UK)

In the September issue…
Trace the shores of the Great Lakes on a road trip from Detroit to Chicago; follow the Mekong River through the temple-dotted landscape of Laos; try out 20 different experiences to delve into some of France's hidden sides; discover the parallel city housed under London's historic railway arches; take in the beauty of a Chilean island known for its enigmatic churches, and much more.